Research is clear – What we think we know, is typically Wrong!
When engaging with volunteers, understanding what drives them is critical to creating an effective and sustainable volunteer program. Recently, I was asked a series of questions about what motivates people to volunteer, both in church settings and other roles, such as paid employment, general volunteering, and charity volunteering. The goal was to identify common factors across these different types of engagement and develop strategies to activate volunteerism and understand volunteer motivations.
Using research from leadership experts, business schools, and management consultants, I created a comparative table of motivations across paid employment, general volunteering, charity volunteering, and church volunteering. This table highlights the shared and distinct factors that influence motivation in each context.
In this article, we will explore the findings of this “Table of Motivations,” analyzing the overlapping factors that drive people to contribute their time and skills in various roles. By understanding these motivations, churches and other organizations can develop more targeted strategies to attract and retain volunteers, ultimately amplifying their impact.
The Table of Motivations: A Comparative Analysis
To begin, let’s revisit the table of motivations across different types of roles:
| Motivation | Paid Employment | General Volunteering | Charity Volunteering | Church Volunteering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Making a Difference | Present (Secondary Motivation) | Core Motivation(NCVO) | Core Motivation(NCVO,For our community) | Core Motivation(Lifeway Research,Worship Facility) |
| Sense of Community | Present, often through workplace culture(The QTI Group,Pen What Matters) | Significant(Volunteer Management Software | Rosterfy,NCVO) | Significant(NCVO,Macmillan Cancer Support) | Major Motivation(GrowChurch,Worship Facility) |
| Personal Fulfillment | Linked to job satisfaction(The QTI Group,Virtual Vocations) | Important across generations(Volunteer Management Software | Rosterfy) | Important for long-term engagement(NCVO,Macmillan Cancer Support) | Important, tied to spiritual growth(Lifeway Research,GrowChurch) |
| Recognition/Appreciation | Important for employee retention(The QTI Group,Pen What Matters) | Key factor in retention(Macmillan Cancer Support,For our community) | Significant for morale and retention(Macmillan Cancer Support,Worship Facility) | Important for continued service(Worship Facility) |
| Using Skills and Talents | Professional growth, skill development(Pen What Matters,Virtual Vocations) | Common, especially in skill-based volunteering(For our community) | Highly valued(For our community,NCVO) | Core focus on using spiritual gifts(GrowChurch,Worship Facility) |
| Mission Alignment | Company values alignment with personal values(The QTI Group,Virtual Vocations) | Cause alignment is key(NCVO,Volunteer Management Software | Rosterfy) | Core motivator (e.g., environmental or social causes)(NCVO) | Significant, linked to church’s mission(GrowChurch,Christianity Today) |
| Flexibility | Important for work-life balance(Pen What Matters,Virtual Vocations) | Crucial for volunteer engagement(Macmillan Cancer Support,NCVO) | Essential for retention(NCVO,For our community) | Critical, especially with busy schedules(GrowChurch,GrowChurch) |
| Career Development | A primary motivator(The QTI Group,Pen What Matters) | Relevant for younger generations(Volunteer Management Software | Rosterfy,NCVO) | Relevant, especially for younger volunteers(NCVO) | Less relevant, except in leadership roles(GrowChurch) |
| Personal Invitations | Not typically a factor | Personal recommendations important(Volunteer Management Software | Rosterfy) | Word-of-mouth can play a role(For our community) | Major recruitment strategy(GrowChurch,GrowChurch) |
| Spiritual Growth | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not typically relevant | Core Motivation(Lifeway Research,GrowChurch) |
Key Insights:
- Making a Difference: This is a common motivation across all groups, with the strongest emphasis found in volunteering roles, especially in charities and churches.
- Sense of Community: Building connections is essential in all roles, though it takes on different forms—community in the workplace vs. community in volunteer groups or congregations.
- Recognition/Appreciation: Appreciation is crucial for retention in both paid and volunteer roles, emphasizing the universal need for acknowledgment and value.
- Using Skills and Talents: While using one’s skills is a motivation across all sectors, it is especially emphasized in charity and church volunteering, where aligning tasks with spiritual gifts or personal strengths is vital.
- Flexibility: Flexibility is a critical factor for both paid and volunteer roles, showing its importance in maintaining engagement across different types of commitments.
A Renewed Path to Volunteer Multiplication
By implementing these strategies—aligning volunteers with the church’s mission, recognizing and appreciating their contributions, offering flexibility, fostering a sense of community, investing in training, leading with empathy, building personal connections, and creating a positive environment—churches can amplify the effectiveness of their volunteer engagement. These best practices not only help retain current volunteers but also make the church an attractive and welcoming place for new volunteers.
To dive deeper into each of these strategies, I will be exploring the following topics in a series of upcoming articles:
- Purpose and Mission Alignment: Driving Engagement Through Vision
- Recognition and Appreciation: The Art of Retaining Volunteers
- Flexibility and Adaptability: Meeting Volunteers Where They Are
- Fostering Community and Belonging: Building Stronger Bonds
- Training and Development: Equipping Volunteers for Success
- Leadership and Communication: Creating an Open and Supportive Culture
- Personal Connection and Invitations: The Power of Relationships
- Creating a Positive Environment: Energizing Your Volunteer Base
Stay tuned for more insights that can transform your church’s approach to volunteer management and multiply the impact of service-hearted volunteerism.
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